Cyclophosphamide in treatment of tumefactive multiple sclerosis

. To review the Mayo clinic experience of cyclophosphamide in the treatment of tumefactive Multiple Sclerosis (TMS).

. Retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients with TMS who did not respond to corticosteroid and plasma exchange and were treated with cyclophosphamide. Demographic, clinical, treatment, and outcome parameters were collected.

. We identified 12 patients with TMS who were treated with cyclophosphamide. Median follow-up was 17 (range 1-72) months after cyclophosphamide administration. The tumefactive attack was the first clinical symptom in 5/12 patients. The median age at index attack onset was 36 (range 22-57). The median age at the first demyelinating attack was 29.3 (range 20-55). The most common clinical presentation at the index attack was the visual disturbance, followed by motor symptoms. The index attack was accompanied by headache in 5/12 patients. Median attack related Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score was 6 (range 3-9.5), which improved to 5.25 (range 1-10) after treatment with cyclophosphamide. All patients were treated with corticosteroids and plasma exchange prior to treatment with cyclophosphamide. EDSS score improved in 8/12 patients and targeted neurological deficits improved to a moderate or marked degree in 9/12 patients after cyclophosphamide administration. The number of gadolinium enhancing lesions decreased in 10/12 and 8/12 patients had lack of disease activity (no new T2 or GAD lesions) in a median (range) time of 11 months (1-16) after the last dose of cyclophosphamide.

. Cyclophosphamide could be an effective option for the treatment of TMS, refractory to corticosteroids and plasmapheresis, and is associated with improvement of clinical and radiological disease activity.